The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-28
WASHINGT0N'S GALA DAY
SINGLE, COMPANY AND REGIMEN
tai COMPETITION.

Yesterdays Drill Witnessed by Bnthu-
siastic housands-Popular Features
Introduced - Our Volunteers Hold
Their Own, Though Scrutinized by
the Argus-Eyed Oficers of the Reg
ulars.
WASHINGTON, May 27.--To-day was an
other fine day, and a busy one, for the sol
diers in the national drill Competitions
were in progress in the main drill grounds,
the Athletic Park, base ball grounds and the
United States Arsenal grounds, the latter
being the individual competition in the rifle
shooting. The shooting yesterday was at
200 and 800 yards, and to-day at 500 and 600
yards. Lieut., Pollard, of the Washington
Light Infantry, still heads the list, with a
total of l72. Next comes Capt Chisholm,
of the Second Maryland 1877; third, Private
Crossman, of the Second Iowa, 166; fourth,
Private Moring, of the Light Infantry
Blues, Virginia, 165; fifth, Private Cash, of
the Washington Light Infantry, 164-
INFANTRY DRILLS.
The infantry companies which drilled to-
day were the Indianapolis Light Infantry,
the Alexandria (Va.) Light Infantry, the
Jackson Rifles of jackson, Mich; the
MoineAux Rifles, Company d, Second New
Tex; the San Antonio (Texl Rifles; the
Lomax Rifles, Mobile, Ala, and the Sheri-
dan Guards, Manchester, N. H.
1t is difficult to specify the points of excel
lence or imperfections, but popular sympa-
thy and appreciation seemed about equally
enlisted by the Lomax Rifles, of Mobile,
and the Bell'nap Rifles, of Texas, withssthe
San Antonio Rifles close after them. The
crowd was immense and generous in its
demonstrations of applause. Next came the
battalion drill between the Fifth Rhode
Island, the Louisville Legion and the Wash
ington Light Infantry. The practice through
out was pronounced good by competent
judges and the opinions of outsiders are
about evenly divided as to their respective
merits.
LIKE UNTO A SPELLING MATCH.
The most entertaining feature of the days
pageantry was the individual competitive
drill, conducted on the country spelling
match principle, which came next after the
battalion competition. The sixty competi-
tors were selected men, two from each COM
pany, and they were welcomed with loud
cheers as they drew up in line before the
judges. At the very outset the line was
broken by the judges, who retired eight
men for failure to place their pieces
against their toes at order arms The drill
was exceedingly severe -Four keen-eyed
army officers were on the lookout for the
errors, and traps and pitfalls were
set for the unwary; the orders
come thicker and more abruptly as the work
went on. Now and then the commander
worked his way with much elaboration up
to some point where it was expected whole
dozens would go down only to be surprised
himself by the ready and accurate response
of every competitor One quick-witted boy
was seen to make no less than three errors
which went undetected by the judges.
Another, who was charged by the too-ready
judge with an error of some kind, appealed
his case to the other judges and, amid the
sympathizing shouts of the spectators
was sustained, but only to be
slaughtered two or three minutes later.
THE SPECTATORS INTENSELY EXCITED.
The excitement rose to fever heat when
only four men were left standing, to three
Of whom the prizes must fall The Bellnap
Riheman was the first of these TO go down
and the final struggle lay between the San
Antonio Ritieman, the Washington
Light lnfantryman and the Ser
geant of the Louisville Legion. The eyes
OF the judges soon detected petty mistakes
on the part of the two latter, and they di-
rected the handsome, erect and well-built
first prize. The contest between the re-
naming two resulted in giving the second
prize TO the Washingtonian, and the third
to the Louisville man. The victors in this
contest were Private H. G. Stoocke, of the
San Antonio Rifles; Charles I. Conrad, of
Company B, Washington Light Infantry,
and Sergt. j. X. Wagner, of Company
A, Louisville Legion.
BRILLIANT DRESS PARADE.
The day closed with the dress parade of the
Virginia brigade, commanded by Gen. An
derson. They are a fine body of men, hand
somely equipped and drilled, and won liberal
applause from the 1900 spectators present.
PLEASING EXHIBITION DRILLS.
After the dress parade the Lomax Rifles
and the Toledo Cadets successively gave ex-
drills, which were witnessed by
5000 or 1000 people, These two corps. If
popular opinion is to be relied upon, are the
rival expectants for the first prize and are
not without some warrant for their hopes.
WHY THEY DRILL so WELL
The Lomax Rifles were commanded
during portion of this work by Miss Mary
c. Voss of Mobile, the company's charming
sponsor, "a young lady of queenly form with
a face of the noblest type of Southern
beauty At the conclusion of their drill
they were presented with a magnificent
floral shield by Congressman Wheeler, OF
Alabama, who made an appropriate speech
to them.
TOO SENSITIVE BY HALF.
The action of the Vichsburg Southrons
and the Memphis Zouaves In dropping out
Of the line of Wednesdays review. because
the former objected 10 their position next
after the Virginia brigade, because the rear
OF that brigade was composed Of two com
panies Of colored men, has been taken cogni-
zance Of officially. The Memphis men were
not in like situation with the Vicksburgers,
but left the line out of sympathy with the
latter. The Chicago Zouaves and the Keck
Zouaves, of New York, today joined in a
protest TO the judges Of the drill against the
consideration Of the drill Of the Memphians,
because of their act in that affair. The pro
test has been referred 10 the Captain OF the
Memphis company for explanation.
nc